One of the biggest concerns that new owners of electric vehicles (EVs) have and something that proves as a very real deterrent against uptake of the technology is the worry over charging them up. No one wants to run out of juice on the motorway, after all!
However, with a little bit of planning and preparation this needn’t be a worry and you’ll soon find yourself well used to charging your car before you go to bed at night… which is why it’s so essential to have a home EV charging station set up for your own convenience and peace of mind.
Something we’re often asked is “how long does it take to charge an electric car?” - and the answer to this will depend on the battery size of your car and the power output of your charger.
If you have a 7kW home charger installed, it should take between eight and 12 hours to fully charge the car, but this can depend on:
- Battery size, where the bigger the battery the longer it will take to charge
- Charger speed, where the more powerful the charger the faster it will work
- Battery level, where starting from empty will take longer than topping levels up
- Ambient temperature, which can affect charging speed and battery performance
Is it quicker to charge an EV at home or on a public network?
While it can be quicker to charge an EV using a public charging network than at home, it is ultimately more convenient and more cost effective to charge at home, since you can do so overnight and take advantage of off-peak electricity rates.
Should you charge your EV to 100%?
Avoid charging your EV to 100 per cent for daily use, as this can lead to premature degradation of the lithium battery. For everyday driving, simply charge to 80 per cent maximum and then charge to 100 per cent if you’re planning a long trip.
